TY - JOUR
T1 - Aging and cancer
T2 - are telomeres and telomerase the connection?
AU - Shay, Jerry W.
N1 - Funding Information:
Acknowledgements. I would like to thank my long-time collaborator Woodring Wright for many valuable discussions about aging and cancer. 1 also thank Jennifer Cuthbert, Harold Werbin, Phyllis Dolich, Carol Greider and Calvin Harley for critical readings of the manuscripl. I would also like to acknowledge all my collaborators who have participated in the studies referred to in this review. Financial support from the NIH (AG07992), US Army Medical Research (DAMDI7-94-J-4077) and Geron Corporation (Menlo Park, CA. USA) are appreciated.
PY - 1995/11
Y1 - 1995/11
N2 - There is substantial evidence for the progressive loss of the telomeric ends of chromosomes during aging, both in cell culture and in vivo. The loss of telomeres may eventually induce antiproliferative signals that result in cellular senescence. A hypothesis gaining prominence is that the activation of telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that is important in maintaining telomere length stability, is necessary for the sustained growth of most tumors. The interrelationships between telomere shortening and aging, and how activation of telomerase may be necessary for cells to become immortal and malignant, are reviewed here.
AB - There is substantial evidence for the progressive loss of the telomeric ends of chromosomes during aging, both in cell culture and in vivo. The loss of telomeres may eventually induce antiproliferative signals that result in cellular senescence. A hypothesis gaining prominence is that the activation of telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that is important in maintaining telomere length stability, is necessary for the sustained growth of most tumors. The interrelationships between telomere shortening and aging, and how activation of telomerase may be necessary for cells to become immortal and malignant, are reviewed here.
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U2 - 10.1016/S1357-4310(95)93872-9
DO - 10.1016/S1357-4310(95)93872-9
M3 - Review article
C2 - 9415184
AN - SCOPUS:0029395466
SN - 1357-4310
VL - 1
SP - 378
EP - 384
JO - Molecular Medicine Today
JF - Molecular Medicine Today
IS - 8
ER -